A MOTORBIKE rider caused himself serious injuries when he went out for a “quick ride” while high on drugs.

Neil Freeman was more than 11 times the drug-driving limit when he got on his black Suzuki in Burgess Hill.

The 42-year-old hit a black Nissan in Hassocks in a crash that left his belongings strewn across the A273 London Road.

Freeman was flinged off his motorcycle and landed in the opposite carriageway.

He was taken to hospital with serious head and leg injuries, and later tested positive for cocaine.

Police say he was lucky to survive the crash and not cause any injury to other road users.

A police reading of Freeman’s blood showed he had 565 microgrammes of the class A drug in his body per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 50mcg per 100ml.

He was so high that he failed to see the dangers of the road ahead of him, police said.

The driver of the Nissan was left shaken after seeing the horror unfold.

The scene of the crash in Hassocks

The scene of the crash in Hassocks

At Crawley Magistrates’ Court Freeman admitted drug-driving and was banned from riding for a year.

Images from the scene show the damage caused to the Nissan, with airbags deployed inside the car.

Sergeant Stacey Ellott said the crash happened on May 20 last year.

The Roads Policing Unit officer said: “It is clear that Freeman had a hugely significant level of drugs in his system, which may well have contributed to the collision.

“He failed to see the dangers on the road ahead of him, and as a result he crashed into a car and seriously injured himself.

“It is extremely fortunate he did not kill himself or someone else that day.

“Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs in your system can seriously impair your ability to drive safely, and that’s why there are very strict legal limits.

“If you’re caught driving while over the limit of drink or drugs, you can expect to face the full force of the law.

“These laws are in place to protect everyone, and we will continue to enforce the law as we strive to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads each year.

“Our priority is to keep everyone safe on our roads, and to deal robustly with those who compromise the safety of themselves and others.”

Freeman, of The Acorns, Burgess Hill, was fined £120 over the crash and must also pay £85 costs and a £34 surcharge.